Updates from Gov. Cooper's COVID-19 briefing:
As of today we have over 65,500 lab-confirmed cases; 1,843 new cases reported today; 901 people in the hospital; and 1,373 people who have died. Today is our highest day of confirmed cases. We send prayers to those who are fighting COVID or struggling after the death of a loved.
North Carolina continues its pause in Safer at Home Phase 2, and of course we have added the requirement for face coverings when in public. Since that took effect Friday, we're encouraged to see more people wearing their face coverings when they are out and about.
As we go into the holiday weekend, we must keep our guard up. I know we want to gather with family and friends, but we have to remember that a large gathering, especially without masks and social distancing, is one of the most likely places for COVID-19 to spread.
Today we'd like to give you an update on discussions about reopening public schools for the 2020-21 school year. In early June, we released the Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit that laid out essential health practices for schools to re-open safely.
Schools were asked to prepare three plans: The first plan is in-person learning with key health and safety rules in place. The second plan is the same as the first plan, but with fewer children in the classroom at one time. And the third plan is remote learning for all students.
District and school administrators are still working on ways to implement those plans, and we’re asking them to keep using this time to work with teachers, staff, parents and public health officials to make sure that our schools are opening in the safest possible way.
Let me be clear: We want our schools open for in-person instruction in August. The classroom is the best place for children to learn. Recent reports recommend it, and I know many parents and children agree.
School is where children learn academics, but it’s also how they build the social skills, get reliable meals, stay physically fit and really become tomorrow’s leaders.
We are not issuing a statewide directive today on how schools should be open in the fall. But we will soon. We want to get our students back in the classroom, and we want to make sure we get this right.
My number one opening priority is classroom doors. So we encourage our public schools to continue that planning, with a special focus on how teachers, staff, and students can best be protected – especially those who are high-risk.
Work to prepare schools is already underway. This week, our Emergency Management & public health staff began delivering a two-month supply of medical-grade protective wear to schools across NC. These supplies will go to school nurses & staff who provide health care to children.
We’ve also given school districts access to statewide contracts so they can more easily purchase for their staff and students other health and hygiene supplies like cloth face coverings and hand sanitizer. We’ll need to do more & we’re committed to working to make schools safe.
When we had to close schools for in-person instruction in March, our teachers and school support staff, like bus drivers and cafeteria workers, geared up for remote learning. I’m thankful for their work to keep the lessons, the meals, and the support for their students going.
As you all know, my mom was a teacher. I know our educators make many sacrifices during normal times, and now, we’re in extraordinary times. As school restarts in August, it’s vital that we look out for the well-being of teachers and other school workers, as well as students.
A few schools are scheduled to start in July, and we ask that those schools conduct remote learning until the decision is made for in-person learning. Our goal remains getting children back in classroom for in-person instruction that's safe for students and their teachers.
To meet that goal, we need everyone to do what works, the three Ws – wear a face covering over your mouth and nose, wash your hands, and wait six feet apart. Especially the face covering part, which we learn every day to be more and more important to this process.
Sticking to these safety rules now will help get schools back open safely. It will help stabilize our numbers, keep our hospitals from being overwhelmed and at the end of the day – it will help save lives. We have the power, and we can do this together.
